VEGAN PERSONALITY

A Date with Kostja Ullmann

Lisa Strixner

Multi-talented, and a genuinely nice guy to boot – an interview with German actor Kostja Ullmann

Whether it’s at the cinema, on Netflix or in German films, the beaming face of Kostja Ullmann with his big dark eyes is everywhere – and for good reason, because the actor has been on stage since he was 11 years old, and slips effortlessly into any role he takes on. He has featured in crime thrillers, his cinema debut, Summer Storm, as well as in My Blind Date with Life, where he played a visually impaired person, and in the 2023 Netflix dystopia Paradise.

And his interests are just as varied as the films he has acted in. At the same time, Kostja is a vegan, and thinks deeply about the world we live in. We were interested to hear more, so we agreed to meet him for a chat.

VELIVERY: Hi Kostja, it’s great that you’ve taken the time to talk to us! By the way, do you come from an acting family? How did you end up in the film industry?

KOSTJA: I grew up in a family of artists. My mother was a ballet dancer, and my father was an actor. Together, they set up a performing arts school in Hamburg called “Stage School”. This meant that I came into contact with the film and media worlds early on.

Getting out of your comfort zone

VELIVERY: You slip into many different roles, whilst always managing to retain your friendly, happy aura. How do you manage to immerse yourself in so many different characters?

KOSTJA: With some roles, it’s helpful to incorporate aspects of your own personality into how you act. However, I find it particularly interesting to play people I have little in common with. Time and again, it helps me to learn more about myself, and to get out of my comfort zone. That’s what I love about acting.

VELIVERY: Which role was your most challenging yet, and which did you enjoy the most – and why?

KOSTJA: It’s difficult to say, because I’ve had the opportunity to play so many roles which have challenged me in very varied ways. In terms of acting, the role of Jasper in Beat (Amazon Prime) was a huge challenge, but also a whole load of fun. And of course, I will never forget how exciting the filming was for Paradise (Netflix).

One day, something just clicked – and I became a vegan

VELIVERY: Towards the start of your career, you acted in the series Zwei Männer am Herd (“Two men in the kitchen”) which dealt with food and cooking. What role does food play in your life?

KOSTJA: I would almost go as far as to say that food is the most important thing in my life after family and friends. I’m someone who really enjoys my food, and I love getting to know food from different cultures.

VELIVERY: You’re a vegan. When did you take the decision to become a vegan, and what were your reasons?

KOSTJA: I made the decision after videos by the Australian animal rights activist Joey Carbstrong kept popping up in my feed. He stands in busy shopping streets, and talks to passers-by very calmly but pointedly about why eating animals is wrong. One day, something clicked in me, and I decided to eat vegan food once a week. When, after the first day, I noticed how easy it is to find delicious vegan food, I thought I’d see how many days in a row I could manage to eat vegan. Now, five years later, I can’t imagine ever eating animal products again.

VELIVERY: How would you define what it means to behave mindfully towards oneself and towards the planet?

Not perfect, but honest and contented

KOSTJA: It’s important to me to treat every living being – and our planet – with respect. Of course I’m not perfect, and I’m sure I don’t get everything right. I think we need to free ourselves from the pressure of wanting to get everything right. Everyone should see what they’re able to manage, and try to be as honest with themselves as possible.

VELIVERY: You once mentioned in an interview that you had discovered hiking. Do you think that contact with nature makes people love the planet and all living beings more?

KOSTJA: Definitely. When you’ve been hiking for hours, and you get to the top of the mountain and can admire the beauty of the nature around you, you realize how much strength it gives you. The society I live in often gives you the impression that “higher, faster, further” will make us happy. But these are always just fleeting moments which don’t make you happy in the long term. We need to relearn how to be content with ourselves. Of course, that’s easier said than done.

VELIVERY: You said that you really enjoy your food. What does vegan indulgence look like for you? Would you mind telling us some of your favorite dishes?

Favorite dishes and vegan hacks

KOSTJA: My favorite dishes haven’t changed all that much since before I was a vegan. It’s just the ingredients that have changed slightly. My absolute favorite dish is an Indian curry. I used to make it with chicken – now I make it with chickpeas (Chana Masala). And of course, not to forget a delicious vegan Bolognese sauce .

VELIVERY: Are there any special hacks or products that your vegan cooking couldn’t be without?

KOSTJA: I have one tip for breakfast: in the mornings, I like making vegan “scrambled eggs” from tofu with turmeric and kala namak salt. And I have another tip for cocktail fans: I like drinking whisky sours, so I always have aquafaba (chickpea water) in my cupboard. It’s a great replacement for egg white, as it can be made into foam.

VELIVERY: Do you have any other hobbies besides cooking? What brings you joy?

KOSTJA: When I’m not filming, I love doing sports, and traveling. I’m usually to be found on the tennis court, the golf course or at the gym. Or traveling to other places around the world.

You’d be surprised how many vegan products are out there

VELIVERY: Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

KOSTJA: For anyone who isn’t following a vegan diet yet, I’d recommend approaching things gradually. Maybe start with one day a week, and just see what there is out there. You’ll be surprised how many different vegan products are out there nowadays!

VELIVERY: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us, and for your insights! We wish you all the best – both on and off stage!